Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
defrock. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
defrock, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
defrock in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
defrock you have here. The definition of the word
defrock will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
defrock, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From French défroquer, from dé- + froc. By surface analysis, de- + frock.
Pronunciation
Verb
defrock (third-person singular simple present defrocks, present participle defrocking, simple past and past participle defrocked)
- (literally) To divest of a frock.
- (figuratively) To formally remove the rights and authority of a member of the clergy.
The defrocked priest may no longer perform rites.
2022 December 18, AP, “Anti-abortion US priest Frank Pavone defrocked by Vatican”, in The Guardian:The Vatican has defrocked the anti-abortion US priest Frank Pavone for what it said were “blasphemous communications on social media” as well as “persistent disobedience” of his bishop.
- (by extension) To formally remove the rights and authority of someone, e.g. a government official or a medical practitioner.
2012 March 19, David Denby, “Everybody Comes to Rick’s: “Casablanca” on the Big Screen”, in The New Yorker:There are refugees and black marketers, defrocked bankers and resistance fighters, gamblers, floozies, French colonial policemen, American and Spanish entertainers, and, eventually, Nazi officers (who in reality never set foot in Casablanca).
Synonyms
Translations
remove the rights of a member of clergy
Anagrams